Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the past few months the House has witnessed a series of revelations on the Government's plans to introduce water charges and establish what has become a super quango. The exorbitant consultancy costs, the bonus-driven culture, the failure to target investment and infrastructure and the introduction of charges when household incomes are under unprecedented pressure have constituted chronic mismanagement by the Government.

Over the weekend, reports on the threat posed by dangerous levels of lead in water pipes in schools, homes and businesses underlined further the need for investment in the water network. Schools such as Araglin national school in Cork, Garrabane national school in Waterford and Easkey secondary school in Sligo have all been contaminated with excessive levels of lead. EPA surveys across several counties exposed excessive lead levels, with concerns rising in the light of the new stricter requirements. Reports indicate that based on current rates some 55,000 homes may have lead pipes on their premises. The threat of lead water poisoning is a real health danger to homes, schools and businesses consuming contaminated water. Yesterday Irish Water spokespersons dismissed the concerns stating the issue had arisen in 2012 and, essentially, had nothing to do with them as it occurred on private property. They washed their hands of the issue. Irish Water has stated that in cases where lead is detected, it will alert the customer and simply provide HSE advice for households and premises affected. As far as it is concerned, it is a matter for the homeowner to fix the problem. It will cost approximately €1,000 to fix it.

There are two issues I would like the Minister to address. First, the Government has committed to providing a first-fix policy. This means that problems with the pipes from the public mains to the household - essentially the pipes within the household's property - will be fixed for free by the Government. The first-fix policy was designed to help to ease the passage of water charges on the family home. Irish Water's claims that it is none of its business does not stand up against the Government's commitment. Homeowners whose water supply is rendered undrinkable need this support to ensure they get a service that delivers. In the coming weeks when the water charges strategy is fleshed out and confirmed, the first-fix policy should encompass households affected by dangerous lead levels.

The second issue I call on the Minister to address is that of charging for undrinkable water. The water charges consultation period undertaken by the CER in the next few weeks is an opportunity for the Government to ensure people do not have to pay for a service which does not deliver. In places such as Boyle, where people are faced with boiled water notices, there are legitimate questions as to why they have to pay for a service that clearly does not do what it should. Lead levels pose a similar question. Will the Government ensure households affected by lead levels are not forced to bear the burden of water charges when they are reliant on bottled water and other sources to keep themselves going?

It is vital that both issues are fully addressed by the Minister. Amid spiralling costs in the establishment of Irish Water, we need to know that the Government is getting something for the money it is pouring into it. The Minister must, therefore, inform the House of his plans and those of Irish Water and his response to these very serious issues which have arisen not only in recent days but which have been obvious to many in recent months. I ask the Minister to inform the House of how he intends to deal with them.

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